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How to use Facebook Messenger payments

Send money to friends and family online.

Facebook Messenger lets you transfer money to friends and family while keeping your card details safe — as long as you know who you’re talking to.

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0%

Instant withdrawal fee

No fees

Fees to send

$9,999

Maximum transfer amount (verified)

Details

Product NameFacebook Messenger
Fees to sendNo fees
Instant withdrawal fee0%
Free withdrawal speedUp to 1 business day
Payment methodDebit card
Ways to receiveDebit card
Maximum transfer amount (unverified)$9,999
Maximum transfer amount (verified)$9,999
Supported devicesiOS app, Android app
Customer supportPhone
Supports international transfers?No

How do I request and send money through Facebook?

    1. Create or sign in to your Facebook account. You’ll need to be active with Facebook to access Facebook Messenger and begin sending money to your contacts.
    2. Add a payment method. From the “Settings” menu, navigate to “Payments” and choose “Account Settings.” From there, you can add a US bank-issued debit card or link your PayPal account. PayPal payments are only available when sending on the Messenger mobile app.Facebook payments setup
    3. Start your transfer. Create a new message and click or tap the dollar sign near the bottom right corner. A smaller pop-up window will ask you to input the dollar amount you’re paying or requesting and what the payment is for. Choose which payment method you want to use and then choose “Pay.” You can transfer money between other Facebook users only.

    step one facebook money transfer

    step two facebook money transfer

    What happens when someone sends or requests money from me?

    1. You receive a message on Facebook. Notification of your request or payment will appear in Messenger just like any other message.
    2. Accept or deny the payment request. If you accept the request, the amount will be withdrawn from your linked account. If you deny it, the person who requested the money will receive notification.step five facebook money transfer request details
    3. Accept or deny the payment. If you’ve received a payment, you can accept it for immediate deposit to your linked account. You can also deny the payment if you don’t recognize the sender or are otherwise wary.

    Is Facebook’s payment system safe?

    Facebook encrypts payments and user information to safeguard your money and transaction details. It also requires you to confirm your identity at times, either with personal information or PINs. Facebook’s payment system hasn’t suffered a single security breach since its launch in March 2015.

    Like other services, Facebook’s payment system is still susceptible to scams. To use Facebook’s payment system safely, avoid clicking on links from people you do not know or paying people you have not met in person.

    Tips to keep your finances safe on Facebook

    If you decide to use Facebook for managing your money, consider the following tips.

    • Password. A password helps to keep your financial information secure. After your first successful transaction, you’ll see a prompt asking if you’d like to use your password for future transactions. You should definitely do this to stay on the safe side, and of course, always keep your password secure and secret.
    • Scammers and hackers. Don’t let this new functionality make the work of scammers and hackers any easier. Alarm bells should instantly sound if a friend or friend-of-friend requests money out of the blue without prior discussion. That person’s Messenger account could have been hacked. Make sure you’re communicating with the right person by calling or video-chatting with them before you make a payment.
    • Personal details. Remember to never share your personal details with people you don’t know. When you want to exchange personal information with a trusted friend, consider using a different app or platform so your information can’t be easily compromised by any single app or website.

    Ultimately, Facebook Pay could make life simpler when it comes to things like splitting the dinner bill or repaying a friend for a movie ticket. It’s quick and easy and, best of all, free.

    Pros

    • Safety backed by Facebook. The social networking giant encrypts every message sent through its messaging service and uses a second layer of encryption for money transfers. If you have a newer iPhone or iPad, you can use your fingerprint to complete your transaction.
    • Easy payments through a familiar system. If you already use Facebook Messenger, sending money is a natural extension of something you already do.

    Cons

    • Up to five days for receipt. Although money is transferred right away, you may have to wait a few days for your bank to approve the transaction.
    • Businesses can’t use it. Facebook supports personal transactions between family and friends only.
    • Only available in select countries. As of this writing, you can only send or receive payments through Facebook if you live in the United States, the United Kingdom or France.

    Bottom Line

    There are many money transfer apps out there that can help you send funds to a friend or family member in minutes. Facebook’s Messenger makes it convenient to send using a social media website that you might already spend a lot of time on. If you plan to send a lot of money, send money overseas or make regular payments, however, we suggest you compare more money transfer options to find the right one for you.

    Compare other services that send money within the US

    1 - 3 of 3
    Name Product Fees Fastest available transfer speed Maximum transfer amount (verified)
    PayPal
    To send:

    By bank account: No fee
    By credit/debit card: 2.9% + fixed fee


    To receive:

    1% for instant withdrawal

    Instant
    $10,000
    Friends and Family is a free way to send and request money in the US, with fee-based options for international transfers.
    Cash App
    To send:

    No fees


    To receive:

    1.5% for instant withdrawal

    Instant
    $2,500
    Split the bill, pay your friends, buy and sell cryptocurrency and even spend money through a connected debit card.
    Apple Pay
    Apple Pay
    To send:

    No fees


    To receive:

    1% for instant withdrawal

    Instant
    $10,000
    Pay and get paid directly through iMessage, but you’ll need an iOS device to use this payment service.
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Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.

Name Product Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
OFX International Money Transfers (Business)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
Xe
Within minutes
$4
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
MoneyGram
Within minutes
From $0
First online transfer is free.
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
Instarem
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
Xe Money Transfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
CurrencyTransfer
24 hours
$0
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
WorldRemit - 4free
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
PayPal (business)
Within minutes
$0
Provides business solutions for small business owners in over 24 currencies worldwide. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Wise (TransferWise) International Money Transfers Business
Within minutes
From $8.16
Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 20 currencies, while saving up to 90% over local banks.
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.
Wise (TransferWise)
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 45+ currencies.
CurrencyTransfer for Business
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
WorldRemit
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
CurrencyFair
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
OFX
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
CurrencyFair
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Remitly
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
PayPal
Within minutes
From $0
Use PayPal to safely send money and receive payments from around the world in over 25 currencies with just an email address or mobile number. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Xe
Within minutes
$3
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
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188 Comments

    AvatarFinder
    Zak
    December 3, 2020

    Hi James,
    Thanks for reaching out.

    If the payment isn’t accepted, after 7 days it should automatically be canceled and returned to your wife, according to Facebook. Keep in mind that once canceled it may take an additional 3 – 5 business days for the refund to be processed by your wife’s bank.

    I hope this helps.
    Regards,
    Zak

    Default Gravatar
    Michael
    July 20, 2019

    Yes some how some money was sent to someone on through that pay thing on fb and I had told the people to decline the offer and after they was told not to accept they went ahead and accepted anyways I’m trying to figure out how to get my money back

      AvatarFinder
      Bella
      July 21, 2019

      Hi Michael,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      I’m sorry to hear about this. As soon as you have transferred the payment on Facebook messenger, the money will be taken from your account immediately and once you have sent the money to the recipient, you can no longer cancel it.

      However, if this is an online purchase and paid it using Facebook Messenger, you can contact the seller and set an arrangement on how will you get your money back. Just in case the seller didn’t cooperate, you can report the seller to Facebook so they can investigate. You can also ask for a refund by doing these steps.

      To request a refund for something you’ve purchased from a Page on Facebook:

      1. Click account settings in the top right of your screen and select Settings.
      2. Click Payments in the left column.
      3. Click the item you want a refund for.
      4. Click Contact Seller.
      5. Fill out the form and click Send.

      I hope this gets resolved soon.

      Kind regards,
      Bella

    Default Gravatar
    Tramane
    May 3, 2019

    I am a private music tutor. Can I accept payments from my students for my personal tutoring services through messenger? Please advise.

      AvatarFinder
      Mai
      May 4, 2019

      Hi Tramane,

      Thank you for contacting Finder.

      If Facebook Messenger payments will be convenient for you, then yes you can use it as a method on how your students can pay for your tutorial.

      This page has information on how can you request and send money through Facebook so you will be guided.

      Hope this helps! 😊

      Kind Regards,
      Mai

    Default Gravatar
    Lisa
    April 28, 2019

    Someone I know used my FB account and connected my debit card to transfer money into their account. How can I find the password, information etc that they used to do this? Is there a way to access the activity they performed?

      AvatarFinder
      Mai
      April 29, 2019

      Hi Lisa,

      Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

      I’m sorry to hear that your money got stolen via Facebook Messenger payments.You can try to get in touch with Facebook support to check if there is a way on retrieving the information they used to initiate and perform the transfer.

      You can see your Facebook payment history by following the below steps:
      1. Click in the top right of Facebook and select Settings.
      2. Click Payments in the left menu.
      3. Click a payment to view your receipt.

      Hope this helps and wishing you can get your money back.

      Kind Regards,
      Mai

    Default Gravatar
    Ingrid
    April 19, 2019

    Is there a max dollar amount that can be sent through FB Messenger?

      Default Gravatar
      Ellie
      April 19, 2019

      Hi Ingrid,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      According to the Facebook Messenger support team, they allow anyone using Facebook Messenger payments to send and receive up to $9,999 within a rolling 30 day period. They do this to help protect you from unauthorized payments activity and to comply with various federal and state laws.

      Hope this helps.

      Regards,
      Ellie

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